Recycling

How does recycling plastic in Australia really work?

Australia has embraced the idea of keeping plastic out of landfill. We separate our hard plastic for kerbside collection and take our soft plastic to Coles. That’s recycling, right? Not quite. In fact it’s just the first step.

Replas uses plastic waste collected in Australia to make a range of outdoor products.
So if there is no demand for these products, the plastic waste may end up in landfill instead.
Then when government, schools, and industry purchase these products they are all helping to make the process work by closing the loop on recycling.

For recycling to be viable there must be a demand for the resulting products.

When you choose a recycled-plastic product you contribute to the continuing work of our Research & Development centre. Too, which is dedicated to ensuring manufacturing methods are as sustainable and efficient as possible.

The Types of Plastic We Recycle

Replas recycles a wide range of rigid and soft plastics collected through industry and the community. The below chart shows the types of plastic we can accept. The illustrations are a guide only and by no means a comprehensive representation of the plastic we recycle.

We can help you calculate how much plastic you can save from landfill by purchasing recycled plastic products.

The Replas process is very efficient – we use about 25% of the power that it takes to make virgin plastic. Replas does not wash the plastic making it so there is no water used. Replas only adds colour and UV stabiliser to their products at an add rate of roughly 2%.

The only waste created are any contaminates like aluminum cans or bottles which are of course recycled. The other bonus is that Replas products replace a lot of things that use valuable resources like timber etc. These products at end of life, or when damaged, can be recycled back into new recycled plastic products.

Australian Packaging Covenant

And Replas is a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant. As Australia’s largest recycler of plastic, fully supports the aims of the organisation.

And, this action plan provides a framework. This helps further develop our relationship and increase the potential for sustainable development.